Langley fires 62 in rookie debut to lead Sony Open

1of2HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 10: Scott Piercy chips onto the 15th hole green during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 10, 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Photo: Christian Petersen, Staff

2of2Aside from a little sand on No. 13, Scott Langley's first PGA Tour round was a breeze at the Sony Open.Photo: Christian Petersen, Staff

HONOLULU - Scott Langley made a rookie debut on the PGA Tour he won't soon forget.

Russell Henley wasn't too shabby, either.

Langley thrived on a penetrating ball flight and a pure putting stroke Thursday for an 8-under 62, giving him a one-shot lead over Henley in the Sony Open.

Henley played in the same group with Langley, and they put on a remarkable show on the back nine at Waialae Country Club. Henley made five birdies on the back nine, but he couldn't keep up at the end when he misplayed a chip on the par-5 18th to finish with a 63.

Langley, a former NCAA champion from Illinois, played bogey-free and made a couple of long putts - including a 55-footer for eagle on No. 9. He took the outright lead on the 16th when a fairway bunker shot landed on the front part of the green, and he rapped in a 30-footer for birdie.

Scott Piercy and Tim Clark fired 64s.

Piercy, who spent most of his round poking his way around the course to keep it in play, unleashed his driver on the two longest holes. That led to a 12-foot eagle putt on the ninth and a 6-foot eagle putt on the 18th. He missed them both.

Kapalua winner Dustin Johnson reached 3 under on the back nine until he made three bogeys on the last six holes to finish at even-par 70.

Jaidee on top in Volvo Champions

Thongchai Jaidee shot a 7-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead on the opening day of the Volvo Champions in Durban, South Africa.

Thongchai birdied six of his first 10 holes to end the day three shots ahead of two of South Africa's major winners, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen.

Els, a two-time South African Open winner on this course, showed his fondness for the layout with birdies on his first three holes. Then he double-bogeyed the fourth and finished with a 4-under 68. Oosthuizen finished out with three birdies in his 68.

Retief Goosen, who lost in a playoff a year ago, returned to competition after a five-month layoff following back surgery to shoot an even-par 72.